March 11, 2005
Leaders of Iran and Venezuela meet in talks

(AP Worldstream) - "The presidents of Iran and Venezuela met to sign a series of oil-related and commercial accords, seeking to deepen their political alliance as both nations face increasingly tense relations with the United States.

A military band played Venezuela's national anthem as President Hugo Chávez and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Khatami, walked into the presidential palace to begin the talks.

The visit was Khatami's third in five years to the South American country, and the leaders were expected to sign about 20 agreements in areas ranging from oil exploration to the opening of joint-venture plants to produce cement and assemble tractors (...)

Many of the deals that were being signed Friday focus on sharing technology, said William Izarra, Venezuela's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and the Middle East. 'Iran controls technology that has allowed them to assume postures of self-sufficiency, and they are willing to give it to us,' he said.

During his visit, Khatami also is to meet Venezuelan lawmakers and travel to the southeastern state of Bolívar to inaugurate the tractor assembly plant, which is being named after the Iranian leader.

The plant will be run by Venirantractor C.A., a joint venture between Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana and the Iran Tractor Manufacturing Co. (...)".